Plundering the Treasure Ports




Christopher Columbus’s voyage to the Spanish Main, a region rich in not only mosquitoes but gold, silver, and precious gems, exceeded European expectations of the New World. This stretch of the American coast located around the southern rim of the Caribbean Sea quickly became the focal source of wealth for Spain, thus a hotbed for piracy and raids.


The potential for wealth was astronomical even by today’s standards. In just four years “between 1596 and 1600, Spain imported treasures from the new world worth 34,428,500 pesos… the equivalent of $774 million… in today’s terms” (Cordingly, David). Pesos, also known as "pieces of eight", were the most widely known currency coming from the New World. Officially known as "eight reales", these silver coins were "valued in England at four shillings and sixpence in 1664...the equivalent of $23 today" (Cordingly, David).

The valuable natural resources were located inland. After mining the precious metals and stones, they were loaded on to mule trains and trekked through the luscious but dangerous rainforests towards the fortified ports the Spaniards built along coast. Once the treasure reached the coast it was loaded on to ships for armed transport back to Spain.

The astounding wealth exported from the Spanish Main drew pirates as well as privateers from competing European nations such as England and France.  In principal ports like Darien and Portobello (located on the Isthmus of Panama) and Cartagena (located in what in now Venesuela), Spain sent soldiers to man the massive forts and gun batteries as well as “a fleet of up to thirty armed galleons… accompanied by armed warships” to protect the treasure on the return voyage (Coordingly, David).

These measures did not deter serious pirates and privateers like Francis Drake. 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Blackbeard

Image
Journal of James Alexander October 14, 1717 I have been a shipmate on Hornigold's ship for about 8 months now.  A fierce lookin’ fella called  Edward Teach began as an apprentice today. I sketched him to the right. Bunking next to me but I don’t mind as he’s a quick study. We are heading to Delaware to meet another ship and sail around the Chesapeake Bay area to plunder trade and fishing ships coming into the area. Either way I have a mast to repair before we face winter. Almost lights out so I’ll be heading to bed now. November 7, 1717             We met up with Stede Bonny and crew. Solid to work with and we have more man power. Old Blackbeard is quite the character and Honrigold has taken to him as well. Tomorrow the crew votes on the destination of our new expedition. I am hoping we head south. Tis winter up here is much too windy and cold for me. I am not sure I can take another snow on deck. Plus this ship is due to be careened. We could find a small, priv
Read more

Christopher Columbus Hero or Villain?

Image
American public school teaches that Christopher Columbus and other “explorers” were benevolent “discoverers”, sailing the seas on behalf of their sovereigns, in search of knowledge and resources. As a young students we learned cute rhymes like, “In 1492 Columbus sailed the ocean blue”.   Around Thanksgiving half our class donned tea stained fringed frocks and feather headbands and the other half buckled hats and loafers. We sat at the lunchroom table simulating the peaceful breaking of bread and cooperation between the indigenous people and European colonizers. While it is historically accurate that the settlers of Plymouth Rock celebrated the successful harvest of 1621 with members of the Wampanoag tribe, it is untrue that the “explorers” of the Americas treated the native peoples or their land with respect. Explorers invaded land, stole resources such as precious metals and jewels, massacred entire indigenous populations, and sold millions more into slavery. The L
Read more

Set sail with Cailico Jack

Image
Starring at my reflection in the pub looking glass, I am disappointed to recognize myself.  Although the handkerchief hides the feminine curve of my neck and my late father’s seaman jacket conceals my chest, my face is smooth and my voice high. I may not be mistaken for Blackbeard, but I’ll pass as a prepubescent powder monkey. My swayed walk and act were enough to fool the pirate at the bar into offering an apprenticeship. Hopefully in the sober daylight he’ll still be convinced. It didn’t take much, just a dash of amazement at his most recent mediocre accomplishment, a bit of flattery, and an earnest offering of my service. My being recently orphaned also tugs at the heart strings. Jack Rackman stumbles into my shoulder and pulls me out of my thoughts. With a bottle of rum in hand he gathers his crew, which now includes me. On the way back to the boat   I survey my new shipmates. Twelve or so men, most aged with sun-worn skin. Some stern and brawny men jostled their w
Read more